By day, Jolene Bean is a history professor at the Bermuda College.

At night she’s a fervent jewellery maker.

The 64-year-old decided to teach herself the craft after a trip to Spain in 2013.

“I always liked jewellery,” she said.

“I wasn’t a big wearer at the time, but there were so many craftspeople in Spain making really beautiful pieces and some of them I really liked. I would go out and think, ‘I could do that’.”

She bought some jewellery-making supplies with the intent of teaching her five-year-old niece, Reed.

It became a passion.

“I started with beading, but that didn’t last very long,” Ms Bean explained. “Some people could spend months or years beading different necklaces and earrings and while that was nice it wasn’t enough of a challenge for me.

“After a few months I started working with materials like silver and copper because every time I looked online there would be articles showing these beautiful metal pieces.”

She learned mostly through Youtube and other online sites.

She found the research involved, and the challenge of mastering a new skill, particularly enjoyable.

Once she ventured into working with metals she had to read up on the safety precautions of working with torches and other tools.

“When you’re working with fire you have to be aware of that and be careful,” she said.

“I do have a fire extinguisher handy just in case and make sure to wear my gloves and mask. I also did a lot of reading before picking up the torch.”

These days she sells her jewellery at various locations Island-wide, including at the college.

Sometimes people are surprised to hear she designs jewellery in her spare time.

“Someone asked me, ‘How did you go from being a history professor at the college to doing jewellery?’ But for me the two things aren’t that different because I use my knowledge in history when I’m creating jewellery.

“Most of the pieces are inspired by different eras, be it the Byzantine Empire’s chain metal, ancient Egyptian bracelets or pieces featuring Viking knit.

“I find that jewellery which reflects the different historical periods is now becoming popular again with jewellery makers, which makes it fun for me.”

One of her biggest fans is her sister. “We actually had to tell her to stop buying so much because she was spending too much money,” Ms Bean said.

“Generally I find that most people like the stuff I do. I’ve had a few customised orders from people already.

“One woman asked me to make her earrings for an event she was going to on the weekend. I made a few pairs and gave it to her, but they hurt her ears.

“They were sterling silver, so I went back and did another pair using another material with copper findings and they worked perfectly.

“That made me feel great to know she wore them and really liked the end result.”

She spends hours mastering each piece.

“Right now this is another of my passions,” Ms Bean said.

“It’s therapeutic, fun and productive. Plus it gives me a little bit of a change.”

“I have become meticulous about it, which can be a negative sometimes.

“I’m a perfectionist when it comes to things like that.

“I don’t think all the minute details really matter to the wearer, but it does to me. Because if I am selling it has to be as good as I can possibly make it.”

Her ultimate dream would be to own a small shop after she retires, where she could sell her pieces and engage with customers.

“I want people, when they see my jewellery, to be able to recognise it as being mine,” she said.

Contact Ms Bean on Facebook: Reed’s Jewellery, Bermuda or Jolene Bean, Bermuda.